A 40 year-old mother of two, Helen Ese Idiji, and a 53 years old landlady, Sa’adullah Rashidat, have been convicted for dealing and warehousing 28.8 Kilogrames of cannabis sativa popularly called marijuana by a Federal High Court.
Justice Friday Ogazi who presided over the court convicted the two women after they pleaded guilty to charges made against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The two defendants according to the prosecutor, Juliana Negedu were brought to court following their arrest with the prohibited substance on June 25, 2025, in a charge marked FHC/L/CR/544/2026.
The prosecutor told the court that the two defendants were arrested at 15, Olumoko Street, Amukoko, Lagos, belonging to the landlady, where the prohibited drug was warehoused.
The mother of two was arraigned on two counts charge of conspiracy and unlawful dealing in the banned substance. While the landlady was equally arraigned on a two count-charge of conspiracy and storage of the banned substance.
Their actions according to the prosecutor are contrary to Sections 14(b), 11(c), and 12 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004, and punishable under the same Acts.
The two women have pleaded guilty to the charges when it was read to them.
Based on their guilty plea, the prosecutor through an Exhibit Keeper of the agency, Ogah Aliyu Mohammed, tendered all the exhibits in the matter, which were admitted by the court.
The prosecutor thereafter prayed the court to convict the defendants based on their plea, exhibits tendered and admitted, and in accordance with section 274(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
But lawyer to the two defendants, Dennis Warri, in his allocutor, pleaded with the court to lenient with his clients, as they are first time offenders without previous records of conviction.
Warri who told the court that the first defendant, Helen Ese Idiji, as his distance cousin, said they are have become remorseful. Adding that hardship is not a justification for crime.
The lawyer who cited sections 312(2)(c) and 416(k) ACJA 2015, prayed to court to grant the two women a non-custodial sentence.
Meanwhile, Justice after confirming from the prosecutor that the two defendants are first time offenders, convicted them on the charges.
The judge however ordered that the defendants be remanded in the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services NCoS untill September 2, when they will be sentenced.